Prevention and treatment of foot fungus.

Mycosis or fungus is an unpleasant disease caused by parasitic microorganisms - fungi. It is quite common and can occur in both adults and children. The fungus can appear in different parts of the body, but most often it affects the skin of the feet and hands, as well as the nails. It causes physical discomfort and the affected areas look extremely unattractive.

The fungus is not a "harmless" disease. Their waste products are toxic, can weaken the immune system and even cause allergies. Therefore, you need timely treatment, which must be prescribed by a doctor. Many are worried about the questions of how to get rid of the fungus on the legs, what treatment can be used to treat the problem at home.

Why does the fungus appear?

The appearance and development of a skin fungus is associated with the presence of pathogens on the skin, which multiply very quickly. The fungus is most often located between the fingers and can also affect the heels, feet, palms of the hands and nails. There could be several reasons why it appears. The fungus loves a moist and warm environment. Increased sweating of the legs creates all the conditions for an infection to "settle" on the skin.

Visiting public places such as swimming pools, saunas, gyms, locker rooms and shared showers is the main way of contracting mycosis. At the same time, direct contact with a person or other people's things is not even necessary - the spores of the fungus are volatile and present in the air. In addition, the fungus is produced by the lack of proper personal care and personal hygiene.

Poor quality shoes that do not allow the skin of the feet to breathe can also be one of the factors in the onset of the disease. The disease can also develop in people whose work activity is associated with constant contact with a yeast fungus (confectioner, cook, winemaker). The fungus can also appear against the background of weakened immunity due to chronic diseases (diabetes mellitus, varicose veins, thrombophlebitis).

The fungus begins on the skin of the feet between the toes. There are symptoms such as itching, redness of the skin, peeling. Then cracks form, the skin thickens, scales appear. There may also be fluid blisters on the skin that burst and heal poorly. If there is no treatment, the infection multiplies rapidly and can spread to the nails and hands. The skin of the hands affected by the fungus becomes very dry and covered with scales.

Between the fingers, the skin can change color, crack and peel off. In general, the symptoms of fungus on the hands and feet are the same. Symptoms that indicate the appearance of a nail fungus: the infection begins to affect the nail from the edge and then reaches the base. The nail surface becomes cloudy, thickens, the nail changes shape, deforms. There are also symptoms such as the appearance of stripes on the nail and a change in its color: from white, yellow to brown or even black.

The fungus is a problem with which the body begins to fight. Due to this, allergic symptoms are possible in the form of blisters and erosions on the skin.

Causes of fungus in children

Fungus on the feet and hands is a fairly common problem in children. First of all, this is due to the fact that the immune system of children is not yet sufficiently developed, and therefore it can be subject to various influences, including a fungal infection. In addition, the predisposition of children to various fungal diseases is also determined by the characteristics of their skin: low bactericidal activity of the sweat and sebaceous glands, increased ability to absorb water.

In the process of learning the world, the child is in close contact with the environment, in which the pathogens of fungal diseases are widespread (for example, the disease can manifest itself after contact with a diseased animal or soil). In addition, in kindergarten or school, the child comes into contact with a large number of other children who may also be carriers of the skin disease.

Infection in children can occur both through direct contact and after using household items containing fungal spores: toys, towels, someone else's shoes. It is enough to run barefoot or try on something from someone else, and the disease may already manifest itself. The symptoms of the disease are no different from those in adults.

Provoking factors for the appearance of fungal diseases in children are beriberi, poor ecology, lack of a culture of personal hygiene. Parents should listen to the child's complaints, regularly examine the skin. It is imperative to treat the fungus, because it is this disease that can cause allergies and weaken the immune system in children.

Prevention and preventive measures will prevent your child from getting sick. Therefore, you should consult a dermatologist as soon as possible. The doctor will be able to diagnose and prescribe the correct treatment.

fungus treatment

If you notice in yourself or your children any signs or symptoms of the appearance of a fungus on the legs or arms, you should urgently contact a specialist. Only a doctor will be able to make a correct diagnosis and determine the methods of eliminating the fungus on the feet and hands. Correct diagnosis is essential because the outward symptoms of the infection may overlap with those of other diseases (such as psoriasis).

Depending on the causative agent of the disease, the neglect of the disease and the patient's own state of health, the doctor prescribes local, systemic (taking pills) or mixed treatment. Topical application involves the use of a special ointment, varnish or spray. If the patient has no contraindications, the doctor prescribes a course of antifungal tablets that will help destroy the fungus "from the inside. "Of course, it is better to use combined therapy when the treatment of the problem is carried out in all directions.

In some cases of fungal infection, a doctor may recommend removing the nail. But simply removing the nail will not solve the problem, because the fungus will still be present in the body and will manifest itself over time. This procedure makes treatment more effective, because antifungal drugs can more easily penetrate the lesion. Today, this procedure is painless and does not require surgery.

There are special products that stick to the nail and "dissolve" it in 3-4 days. Treatment of fungus on the legs and arms is quite difficult. The treatment itself can last up to 1 year. In addition to the therapy prescribed by the doctor, the treatment of the fungus at home should also be carried out following some recommendations.

1. Complete disinfection of the living space. Do a general cleaning of the place where you live. Pay special attention to the bathroom. Wash the bathtub, as well as the floor and walls, with a cleaner. Rinse the container with hot water after each wash. The bathroom floor mat should be made of rubber so that no fungus settles on it.
2. It is necessary to wash the feet with household or tar soap. These types of soaps have antifungal and disinfectant properties. In addition, they will help to slightly dry the sores that may appear due to the fungus.
3. After water procedures, dry your feet with a hair dryer or dry them well with a paper towel, as fungus may remain on the usual.
4. Don't walk around the house barefoot and don't sit with your feet on upholstered furniture.
5. Throw away your old sneakers. Walk around the house in socks made from natural materials or in open rubber slippers.
6. Treat the rest of the shoes with apple cider vinegar or formalin.
7. The elements of the manicure set must be individual and not used by any member of the family. After each use, clean the scissors and nail files with alcohol.
8. Sleep in cotton socks, which should be changed daily.
9. Bedding should be changed at least once a week.
10. Socks, tights or tights: change them daily. They should be washed with hot water. Socks after washing can be well ironed with an iron.

Of course, it is better to prevent the disease than to treat it later. Therefore, prevention is necessary to protect yourself as much as possible from the disease. When visiting swimming pools, saunas and other public places, use only your personal belongings (towel, washcloth). Never go barefoot. Even if you use a shower in a public place, don't take off your slippers. They should be made of rubber, not foam materials.

After visiting the pool, at home you need to thoroughly wash the slippers with washing soap and dry them. For everyday wear, choose quality shoes made from natural, breathable materials. Wearing shoes that aren't breathable will make your feet sweat, which creates a favorable environment for fungal disease to develop.

Prevention of fungal infections includes careful personal care, regular water procedures, timely change of underwear and bedding.

Get rid of fungus at home.

Among other things, at home, you can use traditional medicine. In combination with the treatment prescribed by your doctor, this will help to quickly eliminate the fungus.

1. Apple cider vinegar is a remedy that has disinfectant and antifungal properties. Apply vinegar to a cotton swab and apply it to the affected areas. If there are open wounds and sores on the skin, then you should not do such lotions. In this case, make a foot bath with a weak solution of apple cider vinegar.
2. Foot baths can also be made with sea salt. For this you need 3 tbsp. salt per liter of warm water. It is better to use salt, which does not contain dyes or flavors. Soak your feet in this solution for 10-15 minutes. It can be applied to affected areas as a compress.
3. Traditional healers know how to remove the fungus on the legs and arms at home with the help of an ordinary onion. Grate the onion and squeeze the juice from it. Moisten a cotton ball with juice and apply it to the affected areas. Do not rinse, but leave it until the juice dries up. The procedure should be done daily.
4. Clay is another way to combat fungus. Take drugstore clay (sold in powder form) and dilute it with cold water to the consistency of thick sour cream. Apply the product on the affected areas until completely dry. Then rinse with water.
5. Celandine juice is a universal remedy for the treatment of many skin diseases at home. If you break a celandine branch, orange juice will begin to appear. With this juice it is necessary to lubricate the places affected by the fungus. The procedure should be carried out twice a day.
6. The pharmacy sells another effective remedy - birch tar. After showering, apply it to sore areas and leave it on with clean socks. The procedure is best done at night.
7. You can also get rid of the fungus with the help of ordinary soda. Take a small amount of soda, dilute it with water to a state of suspension. It is necessary to make an application of this porridge daily, keep it for 15 minutes.
8. Among the recommendations on how to cure foot fungus at home, there are tips that use ammonia. 1stIdilute the ammonia in a glass of water. Moisten a tissue with the solution and wrap it around the affected limb. Place the bag on top and secure it with a sock. The procedure is best done at night.

Prevention can protect you from a yeast infection. But if you still find alarming symptoms in yourself or your children, contact your doctor right away. Only a doctor knows how to get rid of the fungus in the shortest possible time and without harm to the body, he will be able to make the correct diagnosis.

Do not self-medicate. Self-treatment at home can not only harm, but also exacerbate the problem. Traditional medicine can be effective, but only if the doctor allows and approves treatment with alternative methods.